Published April 01, 2009

Does it matter when you go off to boarding school? Are there any advantages to going in 9th grade vs 10th grade? What about going just for 11th grade or 12th grade? Does that make sense? Is it even possible? The answers to these questions depend on you and your circumstances.

 

 

The most common entry point for American college prep boarding schools is 10th grade. That makes sense for many students because college preparatory studies usually cover a three year cycle. Most schools follow the Advanced Placement or AP program. This begins in 10th grade, as a rule, and ends in May of the senior year when students take the national AP examinations. The AP courses offered vary from school to school, so be certain to factor academics into your search for the right boarding school. Private schools frequently offer highly specialized AP courses such as Mandarin and Japanese not commonly found in public schools.

 

It also makes sense to enter boarding schools which offer the IB or International Baccalaureate programme in 10th grade. The IB programme has many programme specific features which are best started at least by 10th grade.

A top prep school such as Exeter offers over 450 academic courses spread over 19 departments. The depth and breadth of course offerings such as these are simply not found at most publc schools in the U.S. 

 

While Exeter and other top boarding schools such as Choate, Andover, Hotchkiss, Groton et al, represent the pinnacle of academic offerings, most boarding schools offer strong academic programs because, after all, their role is to prepare their students for college level academic work. 70-80% of most boarding school faculty hold advanced degrees in their subject.

 

Superb libraries, arts facilities and labs support these serious academic offerings at most schools. Take a look at Hotchkiss' Edsel Ford Memorial Library, Choate's I.M. Pei designed Paul Mellon Arts Center and Andover's Gelb Science Center which are good examples of the high quality facilities the best private schools typically have. How can they afford such expensive buildings and equipment? Because of the generosity of their graduates or alums as they are called.

 

 

Another thing to consider is sports. If you aspire to playing sports at the varsity level, you will want to enter at least in 10th grade, possibly even earlier. Experience, training, conditioning and ability combine to create a successful varsity team member. Most prep schools offer 10-15 varsity level sports including less common sports such as crew, golf, tennis and water polo. Boarding schools usually have purpose built athletic facilities including natatoria, gymnasia, hockey rinks, equestrian facilities, golf course, tennis courts, squash courts and more. Check out The Lawrenceville School's athletic facilities to get an idea of the sort of thing the top schools offer.

  

 

Most prep schools take in a much smaller number of students in 9th grade. There are several reasons for this. Cost is certainly a factor for many families. Paying for 4 years of private residential school is more expensive than 3 years. Emotional maturity is something else to consider. Some teens are more prepared than others to go away in 9th grade. Sometimes family circumstances will determine whether you should go away in 9th grade as opposed to 10th grade. If your parents are transferred overseas, they may decide it is better for you to stay in the U.S. in boarding school at this particularly difficult time. Being a teen has enough pressures. A modicum of stability and familiarity in your routine is often a good thing. Boarding schools are very good at providing a solid anchor because of their strong sense of community life. Boarding schools focus on the development of the whole child. Your parents will always know where you are too as your whereabouts outside of the classroom are constantly monitored. Unsupervised down time is virtually non-existent. Somebody is always aware of what you are up to.

 

 

Getting into a boarding school in 11th or 12th grade is not easy. You will need to have everything the school is looking for and offer no problems. (Don't try to get into 11th or 12th grade if you have been expelled from another school.) Once that is settled, the school will have to have a place for you. That usually won't happen unless a student leaves, freeing up a place. Another factor to consider is that students entering in 11th grade have to get up to speed academically and socially very quickly. That usually requires a very special kind of student who is smart, adaptable and self-motivated.

 

If you are an international student, plan to enter school in 9th grade. You will benefit from an extra year to become acclimatized to your new surroundings, being a long way from home and family as well as getting used to a new culture and language.

 

In the final analysis, which grade to enter in boarding school is up to you and your circumstances as well as your requirements. No matter which grade you decide to enter, you will be making a wise choice.